Calling conservation practitioners: Addressing eco-anxiety together 

By Odette Curtis-Scott 

It is said that ‘It is both a blessing and a curse to feel so deeply’. As an ecologist, on the ‘coalface’, I resonate strongly with this well-known quote.  

On the one hand, I am ‘blessed’ with a deep passion for biodiversity, and it is this that inspired me to establish the Overberg Renosterveld Trust (ORT). It is this that keeps me fighting, fundraising and committed to realising our vision.  

On the other hand, however, the constant loss of biodiversity and the ever-present impacts of climate change, in the face of a burgeoning human population that demands more from a planet that cannot give anymore, is disheartening, demoralising and quite frankly, downright depressing. Thus ‘feeling deeply’ tends to feel more like a curse.  

The advantage of not experiencing this alone 

However, I know that I am not alone and while I do not wish these feelings on anyone, I find some solace in knowing that what I am experiencing is not unique to me. I am one among many professional ecologists, conservation scientists and conservators who experiences feelings of anxiety about nature’s well-being on a regular basis, resulting in feeling completely overwhelmed and burnt-out by the insurmountable hills that we are climbing in the conservation sector.  

There is such a wave of sadness enveloping so many of us that studies have been published on the matter of ‘eco-anxiety’ or ‘ecological grief’ and its prevalence among professionals in our field. The word ‘grief’ comes up a lot in publications on the subject. Why? Because essentially, we are grieving. Every day. And this is what sets our field of work apart from other ‘stressful’ jobs. Because we are not only overwhelmed by the volume of work we need to get through on a daily basis, but we are constantly grieving. For what is lost, past, present and future, by incompetence, indifference, greed and inaction. It leaves us feeling powerless, with a sense that nothing we ever do will be enough. If you can relate to this, then please read on.   

A retreat to work through our ‘grief’ 

As the Overberg Renosterveld Trust, we are taking steps towards finding ways to reduce this burden, not just for ourselves, but for our friends and colleagues in the conservation sector. Together with the lovely Mallorie Lee, a wonderfully empathetic, balanced and grounded therapist, we will be hosting retreats at our Haarwegskloof Renosterveld Reserve. Here small groups can interact, through sharing and discussions, as to how we as ecologists and conservators can work through this ‘grief’ and protect ourselves from spiralling into despair. We are all aware that without addressing our own well-being, we cannot be effective conservators. But we often get stuck there – lacking the tools and the know-how to protect ourselves from this harsh reality. It is critical that we face these difficult and heartfelt issues, as individuals and as a conservation community.   

We believe that this process will be the first step towards us as a collective community acknowledging and addressing how to deal with things that are both within, and beyond, our control.  

Here is what Mallorie has to say about what you can expect from the retreats:  

People directly affected or working in the environmental field are especially at risk of becoming overwhelmed, experiencing anxiety and becoming burnt out as they respond with urgency to the losses and threats they are exposed to. This often leads to isolation but research shows that those who seek comfort collectively and can verbalize and express their experiences are more likely to move from despair to empowerment.  

Over this weekend retreat, we will explore our loves and losses and our response to these. Most importantly we will explore ways of responding that restore and connect us with what remains.    

There will be psychoeducation, relaxation and connecting to what is most salient right now through processes using the surrounding landscape and facilitated writing.   

Our first retreat will take place from 25-27 July at Haarwegskloof Renosterveld Reserve. Additional retreat dates will be set, based on demand. Accommodation and wholesome, delicious meals are all included in the package. Please contact us for bookings – we hope to see you there!